Why not abroad?
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The cost of crossing the channel plus various additional insurance costs can put a brake on continental aspirations.
Since returning to caravanning six years or so ago, we haven't toured abroad primarily because we had an apartment in Spain and it therefore seemed a bit over-indulgent to tug over there as well. We have been round a lot of the UK visiting the extremities.
Having now sold the apartment, we are now planning a month in France when the weather warms up a bit. I suspect that a reluctance to tour abroad is more to do with practicalities than the reasons suggested.
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wow, there appears to be 'tour war' going on. Swifty comes on with those that dare not tour abroad then Flatcoat comes on and says there are those that do tour over there but dare not tour beyond France or Spain. Each 'tourer' is somehow better and braver than the one below? What is going on?
I just picture Harry Enfield and I'm considerably a better tourer than you
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But we know Swifty has a hidden agenda which rather negates his reasoning, Corners.
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Certainly a bit of one up-manship on this thread
My touring is better than your touring, and when not touring my holidays are better than yours, then my countries are further than yours. Just waiting for the ferry to top the tunnel and its all covered 
Well done Swifty for starting the ball rolling, and you haven't even been across the water yet with your caravan
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Good question, and everyone will have different reasons. We have been on the continent many times with caravans and enjoyed being in Spain for the winter at three months at a time. But now the exchange rate is so poor it makes the continent very expensive and with two dogs we have decided that Devon and Cornwall look very good to us. Having spent 10 years as an International truck driver I don't think there are many places I have not drove in, but that's work and not the same as a holiday with a caravan.
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That might have been the object of the OP.
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Why, I have a preference as you have, why should mine be better than yours or vice versa.
Individuals preference does not mean it is better or worse, it is dictated at the time due to circumstances and lifestyle, and change can happen as we go through life.
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I love to tour in Europe and I suppose if you add up all the weeks we have holidayed there it must add up to at least a couple of years. When we worked we could, like most people, only manage 2/3 weeks away. As has been said that can be an expensive compared to a longer stay. Once we retired we were lucky that we were able to spend a couple of months abroad for a number of years and sometimes went twice in a year. Unfortunately age and increasing medical issues seems to be getting in the way of use getting abroad although I am hopeful we might manage this year but who knows. We have been on a couple of cruises as an alternative to touring abroad but not sure I would want to do that several times a year. If we don't go abroad we obviously tour in the UK. However without being controversial it never has the same sense of adventure about it as it does touring throughout Europe.
There could be many varied reasons why people don't choose to take their unit to Europe. At it's basic they might just not want to do it regardless of how easy more experienced travellers will say it is. Perhaps they might not be confident they can communicate. There is a big difference between going to a resort where English is widely spoken and travelling independently where you have to work things out for yourself. Some might have a family connection with another part of Europe/World where it is easier by other means. Lets face it if you are going to the otherside of the world to visit relatives it might be a cost thing to also tour in Europe?
Like many others I often chat to Dutch people whilst in Europe and I often ask them why they don't come to the UK. The usual answer is that they wouldn't like to drive on the other side of the road. Others will say why should I pay for an expensive crossing to the UK when I can go the other way at same cost as staying in my own country. Each to his own I say.
David
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As said in the other thread we have done the "over there" bit when we were younger but now the Uk except Ireland is plenty for us touring with our leisure vehicle ,and when we venture over there now we take the train from St Pancras as the first stage of our trip and for us it is a lot cheaper, than most forms of travelling over there and apart from flying much quicker
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We do both. Last year we went to Northern Germany and the Baltic at Easter and then went to Wales, Cumbria and Western Scotland during late spring and the summer followed ian early autum dash back to Germany. This year we will split our time something like a third Europe and two thirds U.K.
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Oh dear, I believe my poor choice of words have inadvertently ruffled a few feathers. With hindsight I should have given myself more time (before popping out) to compose a better structured question and not have simply copied my comment posed on an other thread. Reading through my OP again I can see it was rather too brusque and for that I apologise.
What I should probably have asked is more along the lines of 'having seen a lot of what this country has to offer, have you considered exploring the rest of Europe where you may well experience better weather.
I don't follow the belief that there is no bad weather just inadequate clothing, everywhere looks better under a blue sky.
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I think we 'inadvertently' know where we stand, don’t we?
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Well, sometimes you write something, click on the "submit" or equivalent, button, and voila, there it is, for everyone to read. It would be better to read through what you've written before posting, but I don't always do that either. I've read through a few posts I've submitted, and thought: that could have been phrased better. I think your OP was off the cuff so to speak and certainly upset some people.
I think you've read some posts from people who "only do the UK", for want of a better expression, and are wondering why some people don't seem to go further afield, for one thing, to have better weather.
In common with quite a few others, we do both. We spend about 6-7 weeks twice a year "over there", and then we also travel in the UK, sometimes just for a week, sometimes for a longer trip of 2-3 weeks. In that time, we have had, mostly, good weather "over there" and sometimes good weather and not so good, in the UK. Not always though, we have had some dismal weather in France in June and in September. Rain, rain and more rain. We have had to evacuate a site in France due to flooding in 2016. So the weather "over there" isn't always perfect!
Apology accepted, by me anyway
and enjoy going "over there" when you do. It's a whole new way of holidaying, but that's another topic in it's own right!3 -
I am sure that I can't be alone in actually loving touring around the UK and taking in all the wonderful history, gorgeous countryside, different cultures. Touring abroad would just be an extension of that for me. I know there will be interesting places, horrible places, lots of history, nice people to meet. Whether or not I choose to do it at the moment, or via a tourer will be purely my choice. Surmising I may be frightened, xenophobic, too poor, etc...... is just speculation.
Even when I have been abroad, I still look to do the same sort of things, take in some history, different cultures, try different foods, swim in a different sea, find an interesting walk, cycle along an interesting path. The capacity to enjoy something isn't limited to a location with me, it's how I choose to investigate, and use that location.
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I was talking to Swifty, David. Therefore, he and I formed the 'we' and I was speaking for no one else at all.
Why would your ego lead you to think I was speaking for you when you and I barely agree on what day of the week it is?
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Was that almost an apology for your misunderstanding, David?
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I always ask myself when away in the caravan
"Could I have enjoyed myself any more?" If the answer is no then I don't really care where I happen to be. If it is yes then I move to somewhere else. Abroad, Home, Wherever, it doesn't really matter.
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I worked and lived in 5 'old Europe' countries for 14 consecutive years so don't find 'over there' particularly 'exotic' any more. Not like in the 60's on school trips to Dieppe.
I never use motorways and always move on every 2 or 3 days so the relatively quieter roads are an attraction.
Motorhomers are welcomed and no need to book at the thousands of picturesque sites and aires. (I don't go over in school summer hols).
I am particularly interested in medieval history and 'over there' is crammed with history.
I am a seafood fanatic so in heaven 'over there'.
I live 12 miles from a South Coast ferry port and often just pop over in the car for a long weekend and to browse favourite markets/brocantes.
Since everyone else is driving on the 'wrong' side of the road it would be more stressful and certainly very difficult to drive on my usual side.
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We were staying in Kent for a night on returning from a holiday in France.Was chatting to a very pleasant German lady who was returning from a holiday in the UK.She asked me where we had been on our holiday.I replied France.She said FRANCE!!! What were you doing there? Every year since 1986 my husband and I have come to Britain for our holidays.We have been touring round the New Forest this year and had a lovely time.You have so much on your own doorstep.
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I just have to add that a couple of years ago we went to west France.Weather terrible.I was ill.The decision was taken to return home.We landed in Kent.Weather beautiful. We normally only come south to go on the continent.We decided to tour from Kent and had a wonderful holiday.
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